Charles Campbell, Professor and B. Seymour Rabinovitch Endowed Chair in Chemistry, is the recipient of the 2013 Robert Burwell Lectureship in Catalysis of the North American Catalysis Society, sponsored by Johnson Matthey.
The Robert Burwell Lectureship in Catalysis is given in recognition of substantial contributions to one or more areas in the field of catalysis with emphasis on discovery and understanding of catalytic phenomena, catalytic reaction mechanisms and identification and description of catalytic sites and species.
Professor Campbell is being recognized for “bridging the gap between surface science and catalysis, for developing new concepts and tools in both disciplines, and for his service to both communities as Editor-in-Chief of Surface Science. His knowledge and his contributions over the last three decades have encompassed enormous depth and breadth. He has made seminal contributions in (1) developing methods to measure surface bond energies, specifically calorimetry using an apparatus developed by his research group and which currently ranks as the most sensitive heat detection tool for the study of model catalysts; (2) accurate measurements of the binding of metal atoms and nanoparticles to oxides, which has led to mechanistic approaches and fundamental treatments of catalyst sintering; (3) advancing and using microkinetic treatments of catalytic reactions, especially by providing many classic examples of how surface science can contribute to the understanding of catalytic mechanisms; and (4) formalizing the concept of ‘the degree of rate control’ to assess the extent to which individual steps in a catalytic sequence limit reactions rates.”
The award consists of a plaque and an honorarium of $5,000, and is awarded biennially. Professor Campbell will present lectures at the local catalysis clubs and societies during the two-year period covered by this award. The plaque will be presented during the closing banquet ceremonies at the 2015 North American Meeting of the Catalysis Society.
More information about the Robert Burwell Lectureship in Catalysis can be found on the award website.